Steering mechanism for motor-vehicles.



O. L. HAYS. STEERING MECHANISM FOR MOTOR VEHICLES. APPLICATION FILED 313.16, 1912.

1,093 30., Patented M01214, 1914,

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Inventor, W CharZesL. J-fa g6, by

Attorney.

O.L.HAYS1 I STEERING MECHANISM FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

' APPLICATION FILED FEB.16,1912.

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CHARLES LEPLEY stars, or ELDORAIOWA'.

STEERING MECHANISM FOR MOTOR-VEHIGLES.

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Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Apr. 14;, 12914 Application filed February 16, 1912. Serial 1E0. 678,009.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES LEPLEY' ject of my improvement is to furnish means whereby all the wheels of a conveyance may be positively steered, particularly those ofa motor vehicle having forward and rear pairs of carrying-wheels. This object I have accomplished by the means which are hereinafter described and claimed, and which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an upper plan View of the chassis of a motor-vehicle mounted on carrying-wheels, and containing my improved steering mechanism for actuating all of said wheels in changing direction thereof simultaneously. Fig. 2 is a detail elevation of the jointed steering-wheel shaft and 1ts op- .erative connections with the longitudinal shaft which carries the like steering-pinions, the said connections including a method comprising a wormand worm-Wheel transmission-device' Fig. 3 is a detail upper plan view in elevation of a hand-wheel shaft with its connection to a main driving pinion in mesh with the forward rack-bar. Fig. 4 is a detail view showing the main and one of the auxiliary like pinions intermeshed with the same rack-bar, and the method of mounting and supporting the forward ends of the main and counter shafts of the steering-mechanism.

Similar numerals of reference denote cor responding parts throughout the several views. 0

' Referring particularly to Flg. 1, whlch represents the chassis of a motor vehicle,

the frame 1 whereof is supported on the forward and rearcarrying-wheels 2 and 34 respectively, the main driving-shaft 14 is adapted to be driven by any suitable prime mover and has at its extremities bevelpinions 9 and 41 which respectively intermesh with the main bevel-gear wheels 8 and 40 of the forward and reardiflierentialgears on the forward and rear axles' The -nected by means of the said differential gears, and which are connected at their outer ends by means of the universal joints 6 and 38 respectively with other axle-sections land 37. These other sections 4 and 37 are likewise connected by means of the universal joints 5 and 36 respectively with the inner endsof the bearings of the stubaXles 59 and of the carrying-wheels 2 and 34. To the inner ends of said stub-axles are secured laterally-directed arms 12 and the forward xles are pivotally connected by means of arack-bar 13, while the pair connected by means of a like rack-bar 32. The steering-wheel 28, see Fig. 4:, is mounted on an inclined shaft 23 whose lower end is furnished with a universal-coupling 22 with -a short horizontal longitudinal shaft 16. the latter carrying a pinion 18 in mesh with the forward rack-bar 13. A like pinion 19 is also in mesh with said rack-bar and is mounted on the forward part of a longitudinal counter-shaft 17, which latter carries on its rear part a like pinion 31 which is in mesh with the rear rack-bar 32. The numerals 30.and 21 denote paired lugs projecting inwardly from one of the sideframe bars 1 and having elongated regis tering slots (not shown) to receive pintles of the pivotal arms 29 and 20 respectively which are provided with bearings for the said shafts 17 and 16. The said bearings are made ample enough in diameter to permit some play over said shafts. The numerals 15 and 5& denote projecting bodies secured to the transverse frame-bars 3 and 35 respectively, spaced apart to provide vertical slideways Within which may be received the ends of the'said shafts 16 and 17 to permit vertical oscillations of the shaft but to prevent horizontal oscillations of the same. When the steering-wheel 28 is rotated, the said intervening mechanism causes a like shifting of said-rack-bars transversely, and a consequentaction is had upon all the carrying-wheels to so change their directions as to cause them to conform themselves to a curved path in turning the machine as desired. 1

In Fig. 2, I have illustrated an alternative method of communicating rotation to the rack-bars 13 and 32 by means of a longitudinal shaft 51 having inions 52 and 53 tiereon in mesh with sai rack-bars. The

33 respectively, and the pair of arms 12 on of arms 33 on the rear axles 60 are pivotally ionhand-wheel shaft 23 has a universal-joint connection 4 1 with ashaft-section 46 rotas table in a bearing 45, the section 46 having an adjustable jointed connection 47 with another shaft-section 48 which carries a worm 49 in mesh with a worm-wheel 50 onv said shaft 51. The rotation of said shaft 23 in one direction, consequently causes a like a shifting transversely of the rack-bars 13 and 32 to effect the same result upon the directions taken by the carrying-wheels as above described.

It Wlll be seen thatthe meclianis m'of this invention occupies a minimum amount of space, and is so located as to not interfere with the proper movements of the other moving parts of the vehicle, and is supported suitably to not be dislodged by suddenoscillations of the vehicle.

Having-described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In combination, pairs of carrying- ,wheels, stub-axles on which said wheels are mounted, pivotal supports for said axles, said axles being provided with laterallyprojecting arms, a transverse rack-bar pivotally connecting each pair of oppositelylocated axle-arms, like inions intermeshing with said rack-bars, as aft connecting said pinions, a third like pinion mounted on another shaft and intermeshing with one of said rack-bars, and movable supportingmeans for the ends of said shafts permitting only vertical oscillatory play thereof.

2. In combination, pairs of carryingwheels, stub-axles on which said Wheels are mounted, pivotal bearings for said axles, a framework in which said pivotal bearingsare mounted, said axles having laterallyprojecting arms, a transversely movable rack-bar pivotally connecting each pair of oppositely-located axle-arms, like :pinions intermeshing with said rack-bars,'ashaft connecting said pinions, and bearings in said framework for said shaft formed to permit Vertical thereto.

3; In combination, pairs of carryingwheels, stub-axles on which said wheels are play only of the latter relative mounted, pivotal bearings for said axles, a

framework in which said pivotal bearings are mounted, said axles having laterallyprojecting arms, a transversely-movable rack-bar pivotally connecting each pair of oppositely-located axle-arms, like pinions intermeshing with said rack-bars, a shaft connecting said pinions, spaced arms pivoted at one end of each to said framework for vertical movements and having alined bearin openings in their other ends, said shaft geing aotatably seated in the bearings in said armsa' 4. In. combination, pairs of carryingwheels, stub-axles on which said wheels are mounted, pivotal bearings for said axles, a framework in which said pivotal bearings are mounted, said axles having laterallyprojecting arms," a transversely-movable rack-bar pivotally connecting each pair of oppositely located axle-arms, like pinions intermeshing with said rack-bars, a shaft con necting said pinions, spaced arms pivoted at one end of each to said framework'fonvertical movements, and having alined-bearingopenings in their other ends, said shaft besitely-located axle-arms, like pinions, inter- I meshing with said rack-bars afishaft connecting said pinions, another pinion mounted on a rotary shaft and in mesh with one of said rack-bars, means for rotating the lastmentioned pinion, vertically-grooved bearings'in said framework adapted to rotatably seat the ends of said shafts for vertical play only therein, swing-arms connected to said framework forvertical playand having bearing-openings for said shafts, said arms and bearings preventingdisplacement ofsaid shafts transversely of the frame while permitting vertical play only thereof.

Signed at Eldora, Iown, this 29th day of Jan.,1912.

. CHARLES Witnesses:

C. M. DUREN, D. M. MOSER.

LEPLEY HAYS Copies of this patent may be. obtained for flve'cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Iatents, Washington, D. 0. 

